Nature is stuffed with irregular shapes — branching buildings and actually natural curves. For that purpose, we’re at all times drawn to extra common geometric shapes, just like the aspects of crystals, that really feel “unnatural.” The hexagonal honeycomb construction of beehives falls into that class, as a result of it appears so intentional. Youtuber Full Stack Woodworking undoubtedly appreciates that construction, in addition to the buzzing vitality of lively beehives. That’s why he constructed this gorgeous beehive-simulating honeycomb desk that mixes conventional craftsmanship with trendy expertise.
Replicating a honeycomb construction is one factor, however how does one simulate crawling and buzzing bees? The answer right here was intelligent and sensible: LEDs. By illuminating 1000’s of LEDs — 3,745 WS2812B RGB LEDs, to be precise — organized all all through dozens of honeycomb panels, it was doable to provide a visible expertise that does an ideal job of capturing the motion in a beehive.
Full Stack Woodworking constructed the picket hexagonal panels, that are themselves made up of smaller hexagons, by laminating layers of laser-cut plywood. Optical fiber tubes for the LEDs had been embedded in these panels with UV-curing resin, then the panels had been stuffed with two-part epoxy. Going through on a CNC router made the outer faces of the panels good and clean.
The LEDs themselves reside on customized PCBs positioned beneath every panel. They’re designed in order that a number of PCBs can join collectively to create lengthy chains of LEDs with injected energy.
The management of all of these LEDs is the place this mission will get actually attention-grabbing. A Raspberry Pi 5 single-board laptop runs customized Python software program that units the colour and brightness of every. It does so in a means much like Conway’s Recreation of Life. When the simulation first begins, a “queen” chooses a random cell within the honeycomb to position an egg. That incubates whereas foragers and attendants zip round neighboring cells. As they transfer by way of their lifecycles, the hive grows and finally takes over the complete array of hexagons. The complete course of takes days and is totally different every time, so the visible presentation is at all times distinctive.
After verifying that the LEDs labored as supposed, Full Stack Woodworking constructed the construction of the desk utilizing standard carpentry strategies and energy instruments. The entire seams and gaps had been stuffed with extra epoxy for a clean prime floor, then the complete desk was rigorously sanded and oiled to realize a ravishing end.
The completed desk is totally attractive earlier than it even will get energy. However as soon as the LEDs come on, The Hive really bursts into life. Watching the LED “bees” reside their lives by way of the simulation is really mesmerizing.
